Jean Marie Farina

French perfume brand. Established in 1800 by Jean Marie Farina (1785-1864), who is regarded as the main individual responsible for the success of eau de Cologne. Born in Piedmont, he arrived in Paris from Germany (where his parents had emigrated) at the age of 30, bringing with him the recipe of a new type of water distilled in Cologne, based on orange flowers, lemon, bergamot, rosemary, and lavender. He opened a laboratory in Rue Saint-Honoré, and named the fragrance Extra Vieille. Today it is said that Napoleon was the fragrance’s testimonial: he used liter after liter. In 1840, once Farina — who had enriched his catalogue with more types of eau de Cologne and some cosmetics — had reached the pinnacle of fame, he sold his business to the Collas family. The business remained with the Collas family until 1862, when two cousins took it over, Roger and Gallet. Still today, two famous eau de Cologne struggle for the title of direct descendant from Farina’s formula: the Extra-Vieille by Roger & Gallet and the 4711 Kölnische Wasser by Mülhens.